May 22, 2019
Had my first chemo treatment yesterday. I got all dressed up and had a positive attitude going into it.
Had my hair cut, mani/pedi, put on a beautiful hermes scarf someone gave me as a gift I was all set.
Tex and I prayed before we stepped through those doors. They said it would take a full four hours!
There was one glitch before we left - no one to care for Brooke. Four hours in treatment means 6 hours gone from her. A long time for her to be alone. I cried out, fist clenched, to God - yes me I did
this- here's my transparency. found someone to come at two. That helped. trying not to dwell on the
negative.
Walked into the treatment center, greeted by the friendly receptionist who even knew my name, I am
feeling spunky. Sent to my treatment bed. What???? Here comes the ghosts and goblins, trying to rob me of all I came in with. My treatment bed for 4 hours is a small, stiff recliner that barely fits me,
I can't push back into a reclining position on my own. The nurse pushes really hard almost launching
me backwards out of the chair. I ask why I can't have a bed. They only have TWO in that whole
cancer treatment center. Now if you are going to be hooked up to IVs for four hours you want comfort. Something that has room for your bible, glasses,phone. This chair had nothing like that.
I started to cry. Felt no Hope, the goblins of despair were entering in. I asked to speak to someone who could change the situation. That took over an hour and after speaking who I thought was a patient advocate I was sent to the Manager of the floor, Rochelle. She loved my ideas but would see
if they could accommodate me today as soon as one became available. Now remember Queens West the main hospital is only so few feet away. They are not overfilled with patients. Two beds. You think we were asking for a whole fleet of them. Goblins every where! It is what it is I kept telling myself. They are not treating me as they would their mother, wife or sister or child. I am patient
#078423!!!
God is with me, I keep receiting this. I am His Child, He created me. Ghosts and goblins flee from me. I place a red sticker heart on my IV bag and I tell the nurse there is a story behind it and if she
wants to hear it I will share. She does! God moment #1. Then Tex and I tell her a little more of our lives. She can't believe what she is hearing. Before we leave, we share the gospel. She is open, my HOPE returns.
Thursday I must return to this center. I want to help make it a place of HOPE not just treatment of
drugs. Pray we can make Hawaii like the Cancer Treatment of America, where they treat the whole
person. After all we are trapped on an island. We cannot just drive to another state to get opinions, treatment options, etc. Pray God will open those doors to change.
